IndiGo Shares Plunge 7% as Pilot Shortage and New FDTL Rules Trigger Widespread Flight Cancellations

Aviation Ltd, the parent company of India’s largest airline IndiGo, saw its share price tumble nearly 7% on Monday, hitting an intra-day low of ₹5,001 – its lowest level in seven months. The sharp decline marks the seventh straight session of losses for the stock amid an unprecedented operational crisis triggered by revised Flight Duty Time Limitation (FDTL) norms and an acute pilot shortage. Chaos at Airports as Over 2,000 Flights Cancelled in Six Days IndiGo has cancelled more than 2,000 domestic and international flights since the crisis began last week, leading to long queues, frustrated passengers, and chaotic scenes at major airports including Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad. Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport issued an early-morning advisory on Monday warning passengers that IndiGo’s flight schedules “continue to remain fluid” and urging them to check the latest status before heading to the airport. The disruptions stem directly from new crew-duty regulations introduced by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) earlier this year, which reduced the maximum duty time for pilots and mandated longer rest periods. While intended to enhance flight safety and reduce fatigue-related risks, the sudden enforcement has exposed IndiGo’s thin pilot roster.